Dimension Data has pushed forward in its extensive Microsoft partnership, adding a private cloud service based on the software giant's Cloud Platform to its growing cloud portfolio, the company said late last week.

As a Microsoft Large Account Reseller, the $6 billion solution provider has a long relationship with the vendor, with more than 15 years working together and a multiyear Global Alliance Agreement. Dimension Data is also a Microsoft Certified Gold partner as well as a Microsoft Cloud OS Network partner.

The latest announcement with the vendor allows Dimension Data, No. 11 on CRN's SP500 list, to offer a private cloud service on Microsoft's Cloud Platform, adding to the solution provider's existing private cloud infrastructure service. The new service allows for an enterprise-level dedicated cloud environment for developing and hosting Microsoft applications in the cloud. Enterprises also will get the flexibility to move between on-premise servers, Microsoft Azure and Dimension Data's own cloud environments.

As Dimension Data has been building out its cloud offerings, both around its in-house and cloud services for Microsoft, a lot of scenarios started to emerge where clients were looking to take advantage of Microsoft Azure or couldn't take advantage of existing Infrastructure-as-a-Service or Platform-as-a-Service offerings for whatever reason, Peter Menadue, Dimension Data's global general manager of Microsoft solutions, said. The new possibilities with the Microsoft solution around hybrid cloud will help "unblock" those customers, he said.

"The one key thing is it gives breadth to what we do for clients. Whenever you engage with a client and help them with a problem, that's great. When you can solve a number of problems for them, you become someone more important," Menadue said. "We're in the right place, at the right time, with the right kind of credentials and the right kind of tools," he continued.

The partnership with Microsoft is one of what Menadue called "synchronized motivation," where the two companies' visions for the cloud are aligned, so they can move forward together rapidly to help end users, both in their technology and their go-to-market strategies.

"We are pleased to work with Dimension Data as they deliver hybrid cloud solutions built on the Microsoft Cloud Platform," Brian Hillger, director, product marketing, cloud and enterprise at Microsoft, said in a prepared statement. "This collaboration enables customers to bridge their on-premises investments with cloud based deployments to innovate faster, deliver new services and capabilities, improve productivity, and lower costs."

The solution will be implemented to clients using Dimension Data's system integration, data migration and cloud services. In particular, Menadue said that having strong services capabilities is crucial in cloud migration and setting up hybrid environments because of the complexity involved. Without strong services, the move to the cloud can be very risky, he said, especially as enterprises and other clients look to determine which cloud environment to put which applications.

"It's differentiating," Menadue said. "There's not many global partners that can deliver public cloud services that have the professional service capabilities. It helps set us apart I think."

Going forward, Menadue said to expect a further relationship between the solution provider and Microsoft. He said that the two will continue "fine-tuning" the cloud offerings and get feedback from clients on their needs. Beyond that, Menadue said Dimension Data will look to expand the offering beyond the U.S., where he said companies around the world have already expressed interest.